Special Topics / Spring Festival Series / Dharma Service of Light Offering to the Buddha for the Lantern Festival

Special Topics / Spring Festival Series / Dharma Service of Light Offering to the Buddha for the Lantern Festival

During Chinese New Year, many people go to temples to pray for blessings and prosperity. As a token of faith, they light lamps before the Buddha, praying for their wishes to be fulfilled and granted through the Buddha or a bodhisattva’s spiritual responses. To light a lamp in front of the Buddha is to light up our inner brightness, and the world as well, just as the sun shines on all sentient beings and the rain nurtures all creatures. It corresponds with the spirit of the Bodhisattva and reflects the meaning of lighting the lamp.

Traditionally, Chinese New Year ends with the Lantern Festival, on the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar. Apart from lighting the lamp and praying in front of the Buddha during the New Year period, people also celebrate the Lantern Festival, when the festive atmosphere reaches its peak. Since ancient times people have celebrated this festival, organizing lantern exhibitions, setting off fireworks, and guessing lantern riddles. It is a day filled with joy and jubilation.

During the New Year period, especially around the Lantern Festival, Dharma Drum Mountain’s branch monasteries and centers will organize Dharma services for people to light the lamp for the Buddha, inviting the Buddha’s light to universally illuminate the world, wrapping up the Chinese New Year’s celebration with a shining wish.